Best Honeywell Humidifiers
Having enjoyed more than 130 years in business, Honeywell’s expertise in producing top-of-the-line home appliances is unrivaled. The Honeywell brand carries a wide range of products, ranging from thermostats to security systems to humidifiers. After several decades in the industry, Honeywell has mastered the art of developing exceptional air quality solutions for homeowners everywhere.
Honeywell offers a wide range of humidifiers depending on your needs, so it can be helpful to know the specific features of several of their more popular models. This article will walk you through Honeywell’s best-selling humidifiers so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing your next humidifier.
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 500 sq. ft.
- 1.1 gallon tank capacity
- Patented UV technology eliminates 99.9% of water-bred germs, bacteria, and mold spores in the water
- 3 output levels
- 3-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 1900 sq. ft.
- 3-gallon dual tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Adjustable humidistat
- 3-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 500 sq. ft.
- 1.25-gallon tank capacity
- Essential oil tray
- Premium design and feel
- 2-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 400 sq. ft.
- 1 gallon tank capacity
- Easy to fill, clean, and use
- 2 output levels
- 3-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 400 sq. ft.
- 0.8-gallon tank capacity
- 2 output levels
- Break-resistant water tank
- 3-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative humidifier
- Covers up to 250 sq. ft.
- 0.5-gallon tank capacity
- Automatic Shut Off feature
- Variable mist output
- 2-year warranty
The HCM-350 is easily one of Honeywell’s most well-loved humidifiers to date. It is a robust, affordable cool mist humidifier that employs an evaporative system and is capable of covering areas up to 500 sq. ft. of space with its 1.1-gallon water tank.
One of its best features is its UV light feature which can eliminate 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and mold and prevent them from proliferating in the water so you can be sure that the mist is clean. Its self-regulating evaporative system also eliminates the risk of over-humidifying the room, making it very safe to use around children overnight. Unfortunately, the HCM-350 lacks a few features that would have been useful like an automatic shut off feature, a low water indicator, and a humidistat. The wick filter also needs to be replaced regularly. Despite these flaws, the HCM-350 is still one of the most well-rounded humidifiers on the market.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to maintain
- Quiet and durable
- Humidifies quickly
- Large room coverage and tank capacity
- No white dust
Cons
- No automatic shut off
- No low water indicator
- No humidistat
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
If you’re looking for a heavy duty humidifier for your entire home, you might want to consider the Honeywell HCM-6009. It’s an evaporative humidifier equipped with dual water tanks capable of holding 1.5 gallons of water each and is rated to cover spaces up to 1,900 sq. ft. in size.
This humidifier is not cheap, but compared to other humidifiers of the same calibre its price is surprisingly reasonable. It’s also large and bulky and has a dated design. It is also rather noisy while it’s running. In its defense, though, the HCM-6009 is still a very well-rounded device: it has excellent specifications for its price, has several features that allow for a more convenient user experience, and it even has casters for easier mobility. With its evaporative system, you can rest assured that there’s no risk of over-humidifying your home.
Pros
- Large room coverage and tank capacity
- Easy to clean, fill, maintain
- Casters for mobility
- Automatic humidity control
- No white dust
- No risk of over-humidifying
Cons
- Slightly expensive
- Large, bulky
- Dated design
- Loud
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
For people who value aesthetics over other aspects of a humidifier, then the HUL430W is an excellent choice. Part of Honeywell’s Designer Series, the HUL430W boasts a beautiful patterned body and comes in black or white. It uses an ultrasonic system with a sizeable 1.25-gallon tank and is capable of covering 500 sq. ft. of space.
The HUL430W is expensive, which is pretty disappointing considering that it doesn’t have many features beyond the basics like an automatic shut off feature and low water indicator. Users have also complained about the bright LED light that illuminates the water window. Nevertheless, the HUL430W remains an excellent choice for anyone looking for a humidifier that can spruce up a home as well as add some much needed humidity. Its essential oil tray also allows you to use essential oils with your humidifier for an added spa-like experience.
Pros
- Large tank capacity and room coverage
- Sleek, premium design
- Compatible with essential oils
- Quiet
- Easy to fill, clean, maintain
Cons
- Expensive
- Bright LED lights
- Fewer features
If you’re looking for an affordable evaporative humidifier capable of covering medium-sized rooms, then the HCM-710 might be the humidifier for you. It’s rated to cover 400 sq. ft. of space and is equipped with a decent 1-gallon tank.
Unfortunately, its flaws are somewhat similar to the HCM-350 in that it lacks a few useful features like an automatic shut off feature and humidistat/hygrometer. Other design flaws include a too-bright LED light that cannot be turned off and a very loud fan. Overall, however, the HCM-710 is an excellent budget-friendly humidifier that’s safe to use in nurseries or around pets. It’s straightforward to use and doesn’t have any unnecessary bells and whistles.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to maintain and fill
- Decent room coverage and tank capacity
- No white dust
- No risk of over humidifying
- Wick filter is treated with Protec Antimicrobial treatment
Cons
- No humidistat/hygrometer
- No automatic shut off
- LED light is very bright
- Loud
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
The HEV320B from Honeywell is another budget-friendly evaporative humidifier perfect for for those on a budget looking to humidify only a medium-sized room. It is equipped with a small 0.8-gallon water tank and is rated to cover areas up to 400 sq. ft. in size.
Most of the complaints regarding the HEV320B revolve around its low humidity output and how it struggles to humidify most rooms in which it is placed. In addition to that problem, you’ll need to refill its tank more frequently because it’s quite small. The wick filter will also need to be replaced regularly, as is the case with most evaporative humidifiers. Overall, though, the HEV320B is a good choice for small to medium rooms where space is at a premium because it doesn’t take up too much space and has a sleek, modern design.
Pros
- Affordable
- Medium room coverage
- Sleek design
- Easy to use and maintain
- No white dust
- No risk of over-humidifying
Cons
- Small tank capacity
- Low humidity output
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
Easily the most affordable humidifier on this list, the HUL520L from Honeywell is for anyone who is on a really tight budget and is only looking to humidify small rooms up to 250 sq. ft. in size. Equipped with a tiny 0.5-gallon tank, the HUL520L is perfect for use on desktops and bedside tables.
With a humidifier as small as the HUL520L, you can’t really expect a large tank capacity or large room coverage. In addition, since it’s an ultrasonic humidifier there’s a high probability that it will release white dust when you fill the reservoir with tap water. Of course, you can avoid this problem by simply using demineralized or distilled water. With all things considered, the HUL520L remains a good, budget-friendly choice. It’s quiet, effective, and adequately compact to use in an office environment without being too distracting or obstructive.
Pros
- Affordable
- Quiet
- Small, lightweight
- Easy to use and maintain
Cons
- Small tank capacity
- Small room coverage
- Releases white dust
FAQ
How often should the wick filter be replaced?
Wick filters can last anywhere from 1 month to 3 months, depending on how often you use your cool mist humidifier. When left unchecked for long periods of time, wick filters can be breeding grounds for bacteria and mold as well as mineral build up, all of which will lead to clogging. A clogged wick filter will greatly impede the performance of your humidifier and cause it to work harder than it should. This, in turn, will cause the humidifier to use up more energy and burn out more quickly.
To prevent this from happening, it’s always good to check the wick filter regularly for signs of bacterial and mold growth, which is characterized by a darkening of the filter. Keep an eye on the humidity output of your humidifier as well: a humidifier with a dirty wick will work more slowly even on the highest setting and will take a longer time to empty the tank than normal. Some wick filters can easily be cleaned simply by rinsing them under running water and then allowing them to soak in a mixture of water and white vinegar for 30 minutes. If the humidifier still isn’t performing as it should even after you’ve cleaned the wick filter, then you know it’s time to replace it.
How does an evaporative humidifier work?
Evaporative humidifiers are the oldest and most common type of cool mist humidifiers. Similar to the age-old concept of placing a jar of water in the middle of a room to naturally add moisture to the air through evaporation, evaporative humidifiers use a wick filter that absorbs water from the tank and filters out impurities before the fan helps the water from the filter evaporate out into the room.
Why are evaporative humidifiers so loud?
Evaporative humidifiers are the noisiest out of all the portable humidifiers because they use internal fans to generate airflow and blow moisture into the air. The noise they make is often likened to white noise because it fades into the background. While some people can handle the noise and find it soothing, others might find it too loud.
How often should I clean my humidifier to prevent mold growth?
Generally, manufacturers will suggest thoroughly cleaning the humidifier once a week with white vinegar and bleach. The white vinegar works to descale the humidifier and removing any mineral deposits that might have stuck to the walls of the water tank and other parts of the humidifier. The bleach is for disinfection, making sure that the humidifier is free from any bacteria or mold. For safety purposes, however, it’s important to rinse the humidifier parts after bleaching so that you don’t end up inhaling any harmful chemicals.
Where should I place my humidifier?
Ideally humidifiers need to be placed above ground level, preferably somewhere a child can’t reach. Humidifiers should also be placed on surfaces that don’t get damaged by water, so wooden tables and other wooden furniture are a no-no. It’s important to note, though, that regardless of where you put it, the area surrounding humidifiers may become moist and slippery from the mist output.
Final Thoughts
Honeywell is a household name when it comes to home appliances that address a range of of categories, but they are most well-known for their line of air quality solutions. Honeywell humidifiers come in different shapes and sizes and there’s bound to be one out there for anyone’s needs.
If we were to pick our favorite, we’d definitely have to go with the Honeywell HCM-350. It may not have all the bells and whistles that other humidifiers have, but it makes up for it in performance and durability. It’s safe for use in households with children and pets, it’s easy to maintain, and its UV light feature that is said to eliminate up to 99.9% of water-bred bacteria is a huge asset. Best of all, it’s quite affordable both upfront and long-term.
